2024-07-29 13:04:46 ¶ ●

Still crazy about HOW Will put Hannibal in jail. In OG books and movies, Hannibal attempts to kill Will, Will fights back, Hannibal goes to jail and Will suffers from trauma—whole ordeal is grim and horrific. In s2 of the show, Will attempts to inprison him by working behind his back. If it had worked—if Hannibal never found out Will was playing him—and he’d been caught, I think Mizumono would have simply been postponed. The key is in Will’s decision to follow Hannibal to Italy. At this point, they’re both a bit in limbo, right? This is the wound-healing phase. They’re tender, in pain, and hopeful. They try to kill each other, which is an important detail specifically within this context for creating momentum. They’re moving away from limbo, going forward—hope and suspense—and then Will breaks him in the gentlest way possible. He tells him “I am indifferent towards you.” No more momentum. No more anything. The player is withdrawing. Will baits him; Hannibal falls for it. He surrenders, he says he’ll wait in place for Will for when he chooses to return. It’s so meaningful and devious and gentle and lovely. Will is cunning and resilient. The way to take down Hannibal isn’t with a gun in his cellar, but by plunging a knife gently into his heart. Of course, he’d have to love you first. It adds so much depth to Hannibal, so much humanity and loveliness.